Life-saving apparatus for use with submarines



W. STRUNK June 4,- 1929. J 1,715,959

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SUBMARINES Filed Feb. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 h w 1 Q4 N M Q N z gwumtov June 4, 1-929; J. w. STRUNK 1,715,959

LIFE SAYING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SUBIIARINES Filed Feb. 16, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m a 12, "3 1 r\ A v Patented June 4, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH W. STRUNK, OIE SOMERSET, KENTUCKY.

LIFE-SAVING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SUBMARINES.

Application filed February 16; 1928. Serial No. 254,808.

This invention relates to life saving apparatus for use in connection with submarines and more particularly to a construction permitting the removal of imprisoned persons from the interior of a sunken submarine.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character enabling use of the torpedo tubes of a submarine as a means of egress.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a flask which may be inserted in the outer end of a torpedo tube and constructed to fit against the outer door seat of the tube and seal thereto, this flask to be connected to a source of air under pressure and to means of communication with a rescue vessel and having at its inner end a removable door permitting access thereto when the inner torpedo door is opened. The door of the flask may be replaced from the interior thereof to seal the flask, so that the occupants may be withdrawn from the submarine and elevated to the surface by the rescuing vessel.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a sectional view through a torpedo tube showing life saving apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention inserted therein; I

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view through the tube and apparatus;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view;

Figure 4 is an end elevation thereof.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates the torpedo tube of a submarine, 11 and 12 the seats of outer and inner doors and 13 and 14 the doors coacting with these seats.

Such tubes are provided with drain valves 15 permitting the water in the tube to be drained therefrom.

In accordance with my invention, I provide a drum or flask 16 having its outer end closed, as indicated at 17, and provided with means 18 for connecting thereto a hoisting cable 19. This outer end has passed therethrough an air supply line 20 and a telephone line 21 and is provided with a relief cook 22. Adjacent the outer end, a flange 23 is formed forming a seat against which a rubber gasket may be disposed which is adapted to eoact with the seat 11 of the outer torpedo door,

the second man feet first.

so that the flask while within the tube may be sealed to this seat.

The flask is of slightly less diameter and length than the tubeand has at its inner end a door 24 which is threaded into the flask,

as at 25, and is provided upon opposite faces thereof with handles 26, whereby it may be rotated to engage or disengage the. same. The air supply pipe within the flaskextends longitudinallythereof and is provided adjacent each end of the flask with a valve controlled outlet 27 and a valve-controlled branch 28 opening through the side wall of the flask. The telephone line is preferably continued to a point adjacent the inner end of the flask, as indicated.

In the use of the device, the flask is lowered to the submarine and a diver, after signalling the occupants to open the outer torpedo tube door, places the flask in the torpedo tube with the gasket against the outer door seat 11. He then signals the occupants who will open the drain valve 15 of the terpedo tube and finally the inner torpedo door. At this time, the pressure of the water upon the outer end of the flask will hold the same firmly seated against the outer door seat. After removing the inner flask door, two members of the crew enter the flask, the first man entering the flask head first and The first man to enter may crackthe tank supply valve 27 at his end of the flask to admit air to the flask. After the second man has entered, the flask door is closed and the inner torpedo 'door is closed. One of the branches 28 is then opened to permit air to pass into the torpedo tube and as soon as this air attains a pressure equal to the outside pressure, the flask may be removed without any unusual strain, and if the pressure exceeds the pressure of the water, the flask will be forced from the tube. The flask may then be drawn to the surface and its occupants released. Two flasks may be employed simultaneously, one at each torpedo tube and if the air within the submarine is vitiated, one of the flasks may be left in the tube during the rescue operation with a valved outlet 28 thereof open, thus supplying fresh air into the interior of the submarine. The interior handle permits the last man to leave the submarine to close the flask door. In event, for any reason, the last man to leave the submarine is unable to close the torpedo tube door, the valves 28 may be opened and left open until a. sufiicient pressure is built up within the submarine to permit the flask to be withdrawn or cause it to be forced from the torpedo tube. This, of course, will require a slightly longer time than is necessary to build up the air pressure in the torpedo tube alone.

Since the construction hereinbefore forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially dcparting from the spirit of the invention, 1 do not limit myself to such specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. Means for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adjacent its outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the rash inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, and means for supplying air to the interior of the flask.

2. Means for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adjacent its outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the flask inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, and means for sup plying air to the interior of the flask operable from the interior of the flask to conduct air to the exterior thereof.

3. Means for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adjacent its outer end having means adapted to come into.

sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo 'tube, the flask inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, and means for supplying air to the interior of the flask, the door of the flask being replaceable from the interior thereof.

4. Means for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the 'flask adjacent its outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the flask inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, and means for supplying air to the interior of the flask operable from the interior of the flask to conduct air to the exterior thereof, the door of the flask being replaceable from the interior thereof.

5. Means for rescuing the. crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is pro:- vided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adjacent its outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the flask inwardly of said means being project ible into the torpedo tube upon opening of I the outer door thereof, a conduit extended through the outer end of the flask and projecting longitudinally of the interior thereof, said conduit being provided with a valvecontrolled branch opening to the interior of the flask and a second valve-controlled branch opening through the wall of the flask, said conduit being adapted for connection with a source of air under pressure 6. hileans for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual: doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its outer end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adjacent its .outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the flask inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, a conduit extended through the outer end of the flask and projecting longitudinally of the interior thereof, said conduit within the flask and adjacent opposite ends thereof having va lve-controll'ed branches opening to the interior of the flask and other valve-controlled branches opening through the wall of the flask.

7. Means for rescuing the crews of sunken submarines wherein the submarine is provided with a torpedo tube equipped at its outer and inner ends with the usual doors, said means comprising a flask permanently closed at its oute? end and having at its inner end a removable door, the flask adiacent its outer end having means adapted to come into sealing engagement with the seat of the outer door of the torpedo tube, the flask inwardly of said means being projectible into the torpedo tube upon opening of the outer door thereof, and means for supan outer annular flange adapted to seat plying air to the interior of the flask, said against the muzzle end of the tube and form 1 flask being provided in its outer end with .a Water-tight closure therefor, and a remova relief valve. able Water-tight closure for the other end of 5 8. In a rescue car for use with submarine the body.

boats, a hollow body closed at one end and In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my adapted for insertion into a torpedo tube, signature. the body being provided at said end with JOSEPH W. STRUNK. 

